Optical projecting instrument installation for vehicles



Aug. 10, 1954 A. l. MIHALAKIS 2;685,818

OPTICAL PROJECTING INSTRUMENT INSTALLATION FOR VEHICLES Filed July 25, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Zmventor 46/5 M/l/ALA lf/S attorneys g- 1954 A. MIHALAKIS OPTICAL PROJECTING INSTRUMENT INSTALLATION FOR VEHICLES Filed July 25, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 (lttornegs Aug. 10, 1954 A. MIHALAKIS OPTICAL PROJECTING INSTRUMENT INSTALLATION FOR VEHICLES Filed July 25,1951

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z'mventor 46/.5 MIA/4L 45/5 Aug. 10, 1954 MIHALAKIS 2,685,818

OPTICAL PROJECTING INSTRUMENT INSTALLATION FOR VEHICLES Filed July 25} 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Z'mnentor 4 I MIHAL 4/775 attorneys Patented Aug. 10, 1954 UNITED OPTICALPEOJECTING INSTRUMENT IN- STALLATION FOR VEHICLES Agis I. Mihalakis,-Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to Glowmeter Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application as 25, 1951, Serial No. 238,545

18 Claims.

This. invention relates generally to the field of instrumentation, and more particularly to arplural instrument package adapted for'installation as a unit. I

Present day instrument assemblies, and particularly those used on vehicles, are relatively cumbersome and complex and possess many other disadvantages. Taking the conventional automobile as an illustrativeexample, aconsiderable amount of space in the forward passenger compartment is taken up by'the instrument panel or dashboard. This dashboard, whichisnecessary as a mounting member for the various instrumentssuch as a speedometer, an oil pressure gauge, a temperature gauge, and thelike which are installed in present day vehicles, not only takes up a considerable amount of room which could well be devoted to other purposes, such as to provide increased leg room,but-a1so makes it extremely diiiicult to service and repair the'various instruments mounted thereon. 'I'he space behind the dashboard is extremely-crowded, and a multiplicity of instruments and other devices are mounted thereon with their mechanisms and wiring and other connectionsextending therebehind. Thus it is extremely difficult to reach'up behind the dashboard and service a particular ranged to present relatively large dial faces containing the entire range of possible indications or readings, and the observer must scan the. en-

tire dial face to determine the actual indication ofthe instrument. Thus, the'observ'er must actually study the entire instrument panel in order to determine whether his vehicle is operating satisfactorily and at the proper speed.

In addition, such instrument installations are relatively expensive and materially increase the cost of a vehicle when installed thereon.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle instrument installation wherein the instrument mechanisms are located at a point remote from the conventional dashboard area, whereby tofree said "area .ior other uses and whereby said-mechanismsare easily accessible for repair andreplacement.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a paclrage-type instrument assembly, wherein a plurality of instruments are contained within aho-using member which is adapted to be installed as a unit.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a package-type instrument assembly for vehicles wherein the instruments are contained within a housing member adapted to be detachably secured to the forward side of the conventionalvehicle firewall and extend therethrough into the passenger compartment.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide an instrument installation which eliminates entirely the conventional instrument dial face, and substitutes in place thereof an image projection system which projects an image of only the actual instrument indication to a viewing means located either within or adjacent to the strument mechanisms are housed within the motorcompartment s0 asto be readily accessible for replacement and repair, and wherein means are providedto transmit an image of the actual instrument indications onto a compactly arranged viewing means within the passenger compart-i ment.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide an instrument installation wherein an image of the instrument indication is projected ontoa relatively small viewing means, and wherein said imageis clearly visible in daylight as well as in darkness.

An additional object of the instant invention is to provide an instrument assembly wherein a provide an instrument assembly and installation,

1 description, taken together with'the accompanying drawings wherein: e

Fig. 1 showsthe instrument assembly of the plurality of instruments, together with viewing screen means and means projecting an image of each instrument indication onto said viewing screen means, are all enclosed within a single,

package-type unit which is adapted for installation as such. 1

A further object of the instant invention is to of the aforementioned type which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, compact in construc- 'tion,. and completely reliable in operation.

The foregoing and other objects will become apparent upon a perusal of the ensuing detailed instant invention, with one arrangement of the viewing means thereof, installed in place on a conventional vehicle;

Fig. 2 is a view of the front face of the instrument assembly of Fig. 1, showing certain of the viewing means;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View, with parts broken away for ease of illustration, of the rearward end of the instrument assembly of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, with parts broken away for ease of illustration, of the forward end of the instrument assembly of Fig. 1; r

Fig. 5 is a view taken along line V-V of Fig. 3, and showing the novel objective lens arrangement of the instant invention;

Fig. 6 is a top sectional view, with parts broken away for ease of illustration, of the instrument assembly of Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a sectional View taken along the line VII-VII of Fig. 3; i

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a view of one of the indicia-bearing members utilized in the instant invention; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to the forward end of the instrument assembly of Fig. 1 but showing a modified arrangement of the viewing means.

Fig. 1 of th drawings shows the instrument package unit of the instant invention installed in place on a conventional automotive vehicle 1, which vehicle is provided with a windshield 2, a hood 3, a firewall 4 separating the motor compartment from the passenger compartment, an engine block 5, a steering wheel and shaft 5, a seat I, and a door 8. Vehicle l is also provided with a dash board or instrument panel 9, which instrument panel extends downwardly beneath windshield 2. The instrument package unit of the instant invention comprises a single housing member H1 having a box-shaped rearward portion II which is mounted on the forward side of firewall 4, and a relatively slender forwardly extending portion l2 which extends through firewall 4 and into instrument panel 9.

Housing i0 is made in three parts, being split longitudinally to provide two parts I3 and [A which are joined together along their edge portions with a tongue and groove connection, as illustrated for example at it and [6 in Fig. 6. Box-shaped portion H of housing [9 is open on its top side, and a cover member 1 l fits thereover, being joined thereto with a tongue and groove connection. A gasket l8 fits between cover member I? and the two parts l3 and I4 of the housing member H, to provide a waterproof seal therebetween, and a bail-like member 19 is pivotally secured to the opposite sides of box-shaped portion H, as at 26, and swings upwardly to engage a plurality of grooved projections 2! carried at the top of cover member i1, whereby the bail member 19 snaps into the grooves of projections 2! to secure cover member H in place on box-shaped portion H. Parts !3 and I4, and cover member Il, may be formed of any suitable material such as metal, plastic, or the like.

Firewall 4 is suitably apertured, as at 22, and housing i0 is adapted to be mounted on said firewall with part [2 extending through said aperture and into instrument panel 9, and with the box-shaped portion il being secured to the forward or motor compartment side of firewall 4, all in the following manner. Two cradle-type brackets 23 and 24 ar mounted on the forward side of firewall 4, being secured thereto by nut and bolt assemblies 25 and 26, respectively, and with a gasket 2! fitting therebetween. Brackets 23 and 24, in addition to being apertured in their center portions, are slotted at their upper portions, as shown at 28 in Fig. l, with said slots extending to said center apertures. Each side of housing portion II is provided with outwardly projecting mounting cars '29 and 36'', which mounting ears are adapted to be received by the slots in mounting brackets 23 and 24, said ears sliding through said slots to rest in the center apertures of said mounting brackets. Nuts 3| and 32 threadedly engage the outer ends of mounting ears 29 and 30 to secure the same in place in mounting brackets 23 and 24, with washers 33 and 34 fitting between nuts 3! and 32 and mounting brackets 23 and 24, respectively.

When it is desired to install the instrument package unit of the instant invention, th forward extension l2 of housing [9 is inserted through aperture 22 of firewall 4 and through an aperture 35 in instrument panel 9, with the forward end of housing portion !2 resting on an inturned flange portion 38 of instrument panel 9. Mounting ears 29 and 30 are then fitted into mounting brackets 23 and 24, being secured therein in the aforesaid manner, and housing 10 is thus installed and secured in position with portion I I being mounted on the forward or motor side of firewall 4 and with portion l2 extending therethrough and into instrument panel 9. Thus, the instrument assembly of the instant invention is installed through the motor compartment in a manner which is relatively simple as compared to conventional installations.

Housing 10 is arranged to contain all of the instruments usually found in automotive vehicles, with the rear box-shaped portion H enclosing the instrument mechanisms, and with portions II and i2 jointly containing means for projecting indicating images of the various instrument mechanisms forwardly into the range of vision of the operator of the vehicle, all in the following manner.

A bracket 35' is mounted on the rear wall of housing portion H, and supports along its upper edge a socket member 35 containing a light source 31. At the lower end of bracket ii there is mounted a speed-responsive indicating instrument 3%. A bushing 39 is fitted within the rear wall'of housing portion H immediately behind indicating instrument 38, and a conventional cable transmission means 40 extends through said bushing and into said speed-responsive instrument to actuate the same in a conventional manner. Cable 40 extends to a conventional speed-responsive drive means, not illustrated. I

A' shaft 4! extends forwardly from the casing of instrument 33, being journaled in'a bracket member 42, and carries at its outer end, in place of a conventional needle or pointer, a light pervious and preferably transparent member 43 having speed-indicating indicia M thereon as shown in Fig. 7. Transparent member 43, which member is in the form of a half circle, is arranged to be rotated in response to variations in the speed of the vehicle, and to indicate the speed of the vehicle in a manner which will become apparent. While member 43 is illustrated as having the form of a half circle, obviously it may be of any desired form.

A bracket member 45 extends forwardly from bracket 35 in a position above instrument 38, and carries or supports, on a downwardly intions may be otherwise shap 5 Qlined extension 46 thsrcoia mirror or other. light reflecting; suriece 4.!- arranged to intcrospt rays of lig t from li ht source 31 and reflect the same forwardly of housing 1.0 and. through a condensing lens means; 4.8 which isa-lso carried by bracket 45 and which conden es said rays of light. through-transparent m mb r-'43., l A maski118 member. 4.9 is mounted on bracket A5 f r weirdly i- -condensing lens means '48. Masking; member 49 contains a light pervious portion 50- surrounded by a light impervious portion 51, as. shown in Fig. L whereby light rays reflected from surface .41 through condensing lens 48 will bass through only the light pervious portion 50 or masking member 4a to illuminate .a predetermined portion of transparent member 43., Thus, only-that portion of transparent member 43- which is aligned with the light psrvious. p rtion 59 of m s i g m mber -43 will be illuminated. The light pervious portion 5!} of masking member 49 also carries labeling indicia theeron, such as the words M. P, H. shown at 52 in Fig. '7, whereby to provide suitable labeling for the speed i dicating instrument assembly. In addition, portion 5.0. carries a pointer 5.23 which pointer may instead take the form of a hairline if desired.

Mask 49 can be made of plastic, with the portions. surrounding the light. pervious. portion 50 and the labeling inclicia 52 being appropriately blackedout. Or. it could be. made of. metal with suitable cutout portions. or f g ass with appropriate blacked out portions. Also, it coul be made. of. film, being photographed from av suit-- able model to provide the appropriate labeling indioia and light. pervious portion.

Thus, with the various parts h retofore dc.- scribed appropriately arranged, only the. immediate vioinity of the indicia corresponding to the. peed of the vehicle will be illuminated. An

image of this indicia,v together with the labeling.

indicia, is projected forwardly. of housin 0 in av manner to be described.

A plurality of other instruments, such as n.

ing portion ii. For this purpos mounting member 53 extends acrossliousingportion being contained with split flange members 54. and. 55 atppositepsides of housing portion] l l. The various instrument mechanisms comprising a il gauge 56, an amxneter 5111. a. t mp rature g e 58, and a gasoline gauge 59, are mounted on mountingmemb r 53 .by plur it f-s r w 60. orother appropriate means, with casingsifi and 5d being mounted on one side'of mounting member and casings 51 and 59 bein mount ed onthe opposite side th reof. Saidinstrumentmechanisms 55,151,. 58 ands!) are provided-with downwardly'ertcnding indicat ing members :6 I, 5.2. Stand 64; re p ctiysly, which indicating'meinbers. .s. oper tiv ly conne t d o said instrument mechanisms tor pivotal movemerit responsive theretoi-fiaid m mber in lud transparent.segrnont shaped portions sass. 6.1 and-55. respectively. whichrsosm s aped. p

are' provided with appropriate,

such as lsshownat 5.9311 Fig. 9; M un gmsmbar this provided with cutout'fporltiop l 2 andl's..wh ch .cutout; ortions are associa scgment shaped portions 65," 66. t1. and 63; Irev spectively, which cutout "portions are pro.

vided with labeling indi aand pointer or marl: means-as shown at .1

ted with. I

I p 16.. and}? inns-s and this in. his. liber ora ay-reason or said or a light-transmittin plastic, r th r lighttransmitting material, with appropriate portions blacked out, or of, metal with appro riate cut-i out portions. In the latter case, portions 10,111, 12 and 1.3 may comprise film with the labeling indicia. photographed. thereon. V

A lens member l9v also extends across nou mg portion 1 I, being scoured between split flange members and 81 at opposite sides ofsaid hous ingport-ion, and said lens member is provided with a plurality of cond nsing lenses s2, 83. 8.4 and 85. I plasticmaterial with said lenses being, form d therein. Howev r, said lenses may be form d separately and inserted in member 19. Member 1.9 supports a plurality of light reflecting 'membars .85. 81! 88 and'BS, which reflecting members are secured to member I9 as by means of flanges 9.0, Or the like.1 and, as is apparent from the. drawings, reflecting members 86, 81, 83 and 89 re so mounted with respect to. lenses 82, 8.3, 34 and 8.5 that they intercept light rays from light ource 31 and reflect. the same through said respective lens m mbers. Additionally... the soc'ie ated. light r flecting members and lens members are arranged relativeto member 53 so that the light rays reflected by member 86 through lens will. pa s through cutout portion 10, the rays of light reflected by member 87, through lens aswill pass, throughcutout portion ll. the light rays. inter ept d. by m mb r 88, and reflected through lens 84 will also pass throu h cutout. portion 12. and the lig rays reflected. from member 89 through lens wil p ss rou h cutoutpo'rtion is. In this way, the indicia c rried by eachof. transparent members 65, 585, 6 and 68, and corresponding to th various in? strument. indications is illumin ted, together with thcassociated labclingand p nter. ormarh ing indi ia. to create an im ge th rcoi, which images. t e her with th imag of h ppropriatespcsd-indicating indioia of mem e 43; re

projected. t ward th passe ger-comp r t d.

.A's previo ly described, hous ng s a elongate .por ionli ex nding into; he area f instrument pa...e1 9 Portion l2 has an upwardly inclined top portion 81 at its forward en nd a. lower portion ,5; ert nd ng bey nd the termina tion of port-ion ill, in the iorm. of a lip, and inclinedflupwardly, a viewing screen mounting member 93.js oarriejd-by portion 9!, being secured within a splitliangc 94. at the end ther of, and;

extends downwardly th rciromto pr vi an i clined surface 95. Member llaalso has a cutout ortion 85 fora purpose-to be de cribe F0111 wins screen means 91, 3.8,. 8% and 10D; which viewing ,sorccn' means. rof 'relcrab y of the type Preferably, member 19 is molded. Of a disclosed in applicants copending application Serial No. 162,851, filed May 19, 1950 for a Refiecting Screen, are mounted over cutout portions IOI, I02, I03, and I04 in the inclined portion 95 of member 93. Each of said screen means comprises an opaque substance the face of which is modified by a plurality of fine parallel grooves and ridges over all portions of which there has been applied a coating of highly light-reflecting material. Preferably, said viewing screen means are formed as a single member mounted to overlie each of said cutout portions. A light reflecting member I05 depends from member 93 and is inclined whereby to intercept certain of the projected images previously referred to and reflect the same onto said viewing screens as will be more completely described subsequently. Also, one viewing screen I06, constructed in the same manner as the other screens previously referred to, is mounted on or near the surface of windshield 2 either adjacent to or within the normal field of vision through the windshield of a person driving the vehicle. A second light-reflecting member I01 is mounted on inclined portion 92 of housing I in such a manner as to reflect one of the projected images onto said viewing screen I06. In addition, a light pervious and preferably transparent member I08 fits over the open end of portion I2 of housing ID to form a dust-proof covering therefor, said member being secured within split flange 94 which extends all around said opening.

If desired in certain installations, translucent screen means can be used in place of the preferred screen means described above, in which case the screen means would be mounted and the image projecting means arranged so that the images would be projected through the screen means.

Intermediate the ends of portion I2 of housing I0, a second lens mounting member I09 is mounted within a split flange I I0, and said lens mounting member contains a plurality of objective lenses including objective lenses III, H2, H3, I I4 and I I5, as shown in Fig. 5. Preferably, member I09 and lenses III, H2, H3, H4 and H5, as in the case of lens member I9, areformed as an integral unit, being molded from a plastic material, whereby to provide a relatively simple and inexpensive lens system, but other methods of making the same can be used. These objective lenses are arranged so they will focus the various images on the various viewing screens. Thus, the indicia image of member 65 and the appropriate labeling indicia is projected forwardly through objective lens III onto reflecting member I and viewing screen I00, being focused on the latter. The image of the appropriate indicia reading of member 66 and labeling indicia I5 is projected through lens H2 and reflected by member I05 onto viewing screen 99. The indicating image of member 61 and its accompanying labeling indicia is focused by lens H3 onto viewing screen 98, being reflected by member I05, and the indicia image of transparency 68 is focused by lens H4 onto viewing screen 91, being reflected thereon by member I05. Thus, the four viewing screens 91, 98, 99 and I00 reflect the indicating images of the four instruments 59, 58, 51 and 56, presenting the indication of each of these instruments at a location where they can be easily read by the driver of the vehicle.

At the same time, an image of the appropriate speed-indicating indicia on member 43 and labeling indicia 52 is projected through lens H5 and focused thereby on viewing screen I06, being reflected upwardly by member I01, whereby the exact speed indication is projected either adjacent to or into the field of vision of the driver, enabling him to know his exact speed at all times without having to shift his eyes from the road ahead of the vehicle. It will be noted that mounting member 53 is cut away along its bottom edge as at H6, and member I9 has a cutout portion I IS in line with the illuminated portion of member 43, whereby to permit passage of the projected speed-indicating image which would otherwise be blocked by said members.

It will be appreciated that the five indicating images presented in this manner add reatly to the convenience of the driver and to his safe driving. He knows his exact speed at all times, and only the actual instrument indications are shown on the various viewing screens whereby it is not necessary for the driver to scrutinize and study a series of relatively large dial faces. Furthermore, by reason of applicants novel system of instrument presentation, and particularly the structure and configuration of the various viewing screen means, the various projected images are clearly readable in daylight as well as in darkness. Also, a warning system is combined with this indicating system in a manner to be described.

As an alternative arrangement, the modification shown in Fig. 10 can be used in which modification all parts remain the same except that all five viewing screen means, corresponding to viewing screen means 91, 98, 99, I00 and I00, are mounted on the inclined portion of member 93, with viewing screen means I06 being carried by said portion 95 instead of on or adjacent the windshield 2 as shown in Fig. 1. If desired, all five viewing screen means can be formed as a single screen member arranged to extend over five appropriate cutout portions in portion 95. A single light-reflecting member I05 is mounted on the lower forward portion 92' of portion I2 of housing I0, and this light-reflecting member I05 reflects all five of the projected images onto the various viewing screen means. With the arrangement shown in this modification, all of the images appear on screen means carried by housing I0, and there is no screen which must be installed separate therefrom. The open end of portion I2 is covered by a transparency I08 whereby-housing I0 is rendered dust-proof.

It will be noted that each of the various viewing screen means utilized in the instant invention is inclined relative to the line of vision of the vehicle operator and to the line of image projection, whereby the'projected light rays, following the rule that angle of reflection equals angle of incidence, are reflected by the various viewing screen means into the field of vision of the observer. Also, the reflecting surface of said screens faces downwardly over a relatively nonrefiecting area, to eliminate as much as possible any reflection thereon of extraneous light. Also,

the grooves and ridges of the screens are generodometer I I! being visible through cutout portion assume 9 9'6 or member 93 as shown in Fig.- 2 A- drive cable H9 extends through housing being driven in a cQnv'ennonaI riianner and eat-ends through members 19, 53 and H39; and a bracket I secured on pdrbn 9| of housing I0 to drive odometer H1 in a conventional manner.

Also; portion I I of housing lt'contains-two light sources HI and ['22 arranged to beintermittently actuated to indicate either a left=hand or a right hand turning signal, respectively. Member 19 carries two lenses [2-3 and I24 arranged the path of light sources 121 and 122-, respectively, and member Ill-9 is similarly provided with a pair of lenses l' and [26, whereby rays of light from said light sources are projected forwardly through housing it. These projected light rays pass through arrow -shaped cutout portions [21 and I28, respectively, on member 93, whereby the blinking light source actuated in a conventional manner in response to a turning signal Wili illuminate the appropriate cutout portion I21 or I28. r

The various necessary electrical cables required by the instrument mechanisms and light 'sourees,

and not previously provided for, are carried into portion ll" of housing It] through an appropriate electrical connection receptacle H9. The details of the various energizing connections are not specifically illustrated, since various conventional energizing arrangements can be utilized and the details thereof form no part of the-instant invention. v i H To summarize the overalloperation of the instrument presentation system of this-invention, it would perhaps be well to completely trace through the path o'feach of the various light beams and: projected images,- and these paths are shown in the drawings by means of letters Thus, certain of the light rays from light source 31 follow the path indicated at Al to member 4'? where they are reflcted through coridIlSi-ng lens 48'- andmasking member to illuminate the exact speed-indicatingiridicia carried by member E3. An imageof the indicia tl'i'u's illuminated is projected along path A thfpiigh the cut-out'portion fl 6 or member 19 and the cutter; portion H' of member 53 and project" I [5, which projecting lens foiis'e's said ifna viewing screen I-Ei6,.said image being iiitrf p' and reflected onto said screen by member; e7

Other light rays ffdfii light scores 31 fonow path B to reflecting member se wmcn f fleets them throug cond nsing lens" 82', memo? t5, and cutout is" to 11m natethe proper I on member 65. Theimage ortnis in minutes indicts follows path B through objec veliis 'l'f'l, which lens focuses said image onto screen lutvia refiectirigmein ber roe. t

other light rays follow path cfto" refic'tui' member 81' which reflects the'i'n through densi'ng lens 83 and cutout portion t: to nate the'appropriate 'ind'icia on memb r. This usage isp'roje'cted aiong pain 0 through if:

it onto screen 99; said image ng image onscreen 98 via redscting geui other light rays fol-10w path at member which reflects through co sensing le'n'sit and sunset is to stein-lune the it iiidieia on main-oer 68-. An image of this illumi hated iiidicia is projected along path E through objective lens H4 and onto member it?) and screen means; 9?, being focused on the latter by said objective lens;

The odometer i ii is energized in conventional manner to provide a mileage register; and light rays from light source i=2! follow paths through lenses I23 and I25 to cutout iii, while light rays from light source IZ Z follow path G through lenses IN and I26 to cutout I28. Also, if desired, a; conventional hi ld headlight beam indicator could be installed in housing it], being operable in the same manner as the turn indicators to illuminate a cutout portion in member 93-.

An additional feature of the instant invention lies in the fact that variations in color are utilized to-give warnmg of a change in an instrument indication.- Thus, for example, each of members $5, 63, 51 and 68 are provided with a series of different colors; such as red, blue; and yellow, extending over different portions of the indicia-bearing extent thereof. Member 43 is similarly provided with a series of different colors; being repeated if-necessary. In this way, the passage of any instrument indication from one range to another is indicated not only by a change in indicia but also by a change in color, thus providing, in effect a combined warnin and indicating system presenting many advantages over conventional instrument installations; v p y J This 'coior system isparticularly effective when the same color is used over the optimum range of each instrument as described in detail and claimed; in its broader-aspects in my copending application Ser.- No. 216,647 filed March 20; 1951. Then, as long as each instrument is functioning to indicate an optimum condition; all of the images appearing on the screen means willbe of the same color. If one of the instrument indica tions varies from the predetermined optimum, the corresponding image Willchange color, and the operator will immediately be warned, not only that one instrument is indicating amaliun'ctioning, but also which instrument it is, all without the necessity of scanning and observing aplura-lit y of instrument dials;

01? course; different colors, as weilas different methods of coloration, canbe utilized, Thus; the indicia; may be either opaque or light-pervious, with the remainder of; the indic-ia bearing members being either light-pervious or opaque,- respectively; Also,- either the lightpervious portions of the indicia+bearing= member canbe colored or the masking members can be provided with colored light pervious elements across their cutout portions,- or other coloring means can be provided. If desired; the rays of light can be passed through members of different colors toproduce an image of still' another color. 7

Therefore it is seen that the instant invention fullyaccomplishes its aforesaid purposes. All of the various indicating and registering instruments carried as standard equipment on most present day vehicles, including turn indicators, are contained within ahousing which extends as a unit from the forward side of a'veh-icle firewall to the dashboard area thereof. In installirig said unit, it is only necessary to fit the same through the opening in the firewall,- from the forward side thereof; and fasten the-same 1: said firewalla In removing said unit for replacement and repair purposes it" is drily necessi y to reach into the motor compartment and unfit-stair the and then hit same teeny outward through the opening in the firewall. The advantages of such an arrangement are obvious in that it reduces to a minimum the amount of passenger compartment space occupied by the instrument system and materially reduces the amount of work required in installing and repairing the instrument assembly. Also, the various instrument mechanisms are rendered accessible for repair purposes simply by removing the cover on that portion of the housing which is within the motor compartment. Thus, virtually all manipulations of the instrument installation of the instant invention are done either in or through the motor compartment.

In addition, the instruments of the present invention are of a type which greatly facilitate reading thereof since the portion which is viewed comprises an image of only the actual instrument indication, which image is projected onto one of several small screen means located either adjacent to or within the drivers normal field of vision, and said screen means occupy relatively little room compared to conventional instrument dials. Also, variations in the color of said images are effectively utilized to provide a warning of a change in instrument indication. Thus, the instant invention provides a combined warning and indicating system. Further, the instrument assembly of the instant invention is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and install.

Of course, the instant invention is not to be limited to the exact structural details disclosed and illustrated, since it is susceptible of many modifications thereof, nor is it to be limited to a vehicle installation, since it is adapted for use in virtually any instrument installation. Therefore, it is intended that the instant invention be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

Having completely disclosed the instant invention, and having fully described the mode of operation thereof, what is claimed as new is at follows:

1. In a vehicle having a wall portion separating the motor compartment from the passenger compartment thereof, an instrument installation comprising indicating instrument means operatively connected to a functioning element of said vehicle and located forwardly of said wall portion within said motor compartment, viewing screen means located rearwardly of said wall portion within said passenger compartment in a position to be readily viewed by the vehicle operator, said instrument means having an indicia member, objective lens means interposed between said indicia member and said screen means and focusing the indicia on the latter, and a light source operatively aligned with said indicia member and said objective lens means, whereby an image of said indicia member is projected onto said screen means.

2. In a vehicle having a downwardly extending firewall dividing the same into a motor compartment and a passenger compartment, conditionresponsive instrument means operatively con-- nected to a functioning element of the vehicle and mounted on the forward side of said firewall within said motor compartment, said instrument means having a movable light-transmitting indicia-bearing member, opaque viewing screen.

means located rearwardly of said firewall within said passenger compartment in a position to be readily viewed by the vehicle operator, objective lens means interposed between said indicia-bearing member and said screen means and focusmg the indicia on the latter, and a source of illumination operatively aligned with said indicia-bearing member and said objective lens means, whereby an image of said indicia-bearing member is projected onto said screen means.

3. In combination with a vehicle having a firewall extending between the motor compartment and the passenger compartment thereof to separate the same, an instrument assembly comprising condition-responsive instrument means responsive to a functioning element of the vehicle and located on one side of said firewall within said motor compartment, viewing screen means located on the other side of said firewall within said passenger compartment and positioned so as to be easily viewed by the driver of said vehicle, said instrument means having a movable light-transmitting indicia member, objective lens means interposed between said indicia member and said screen means and focusing the indicia on the latter, and a light source operatively alined with said indicia member and said objective lens means, whereby an image of said indicia is projected onto said screen means.

4. In a vehicle having a windshield and a wall member extending downwardly forward of said windshield to separate said vehicle into a motor compartment and a passenger compartment, an indicating instrument means operatively connected to a functioning element of the vehicle and carried on the motor compartment side of said wall member, said instrument means including a movable indicia-bearing member, viewing screen means located in the passenger compartment adjacent the vehicle operators line of vision through said windshield, illuminating means op eratively alined with said indicia-bearing member, and objective lens means interposed between said indicia-bearing member and said viewing screen means and focused upon the latter, whereby an image of said indicia-bearing member will be projected onto said viewing screen means.

5. In a vehicle having a wall element separating its motor compartment from its passenger compartment and having an opening therethrough, an instrument assembly comprising a housing member mounted on the motor compartment side of said wall element and extending through said opening into said passenger compartment, said housing member extending on opposite sides of said wall element and being detachably mounted on said wall element whereby to facilitate the installation and removal thereof as a unit, indicating instrument means adapted for operative connection to a functioning element of the vehicle carried within that portion of said housing member which is located on the motor compartment side of said wall element, viewing screen means carried by said housing member adjacent the end thereof which is within said passenger compartment, said instrument means having a movable indicia member within said housing member, objective lens means within said housing member interposed between said indicia member and said screen means and focusing the indicia on the latter, and a light source within said housing member operatively alined with said indicia member and said objective lens means, whereby an image of said indicia is projected onto said screen means.

6. In a vehicle having a passenger compartment defined at least in part by a wall element, means defining an aperture in said wall element, a housing member, means detachably mounting said housing member on said one of said wall eleassists "i 3 c "merits exterloiiy of said assenger compartment with a portion thereof extending through said aperture and into said passenger compartment, indicating instrument means carried within said housing member exteriorly of said passenger compartment for operative connection to a funct'ioning element of the vehicle, viewing screen means carried by said housingmember adjacent the end thereof within said passenger compartment, said instrument means having a movable indicia member within said housing member, objective lens means within said housing member interposed between said indicia member and said screen means and focusing the indicia on the latter, and a light source within said housing member operatively alined with said indicia member and. said objective lens means, whereby an image of said indicia is projected onto said screen means,

'7. In a vehicle having a motor compartment and a passenger compartment with a wall member extending therebetween to define the same, a housing detachably mounted on the motor compartment side of said wall member and extendment means, each of said indicia members having difierently colored portions, means including objective lens means within said housing interposed between said indicia members and, said screen means "and focusing the indicia on said members and said objective lens means, whereby an image of each of said indicia members is projected onsaid viewing screen means, said indicia members having portions of a predetermined color serving to indicate an optimum condition, whereby an of said images will be of said predetermined color when all of said instrument means are indicating an optimum condition 8. In combination with a "vehicle having a motor compartment and a passenger compartment and a wall element serving to separate the same, a housing member carried by said wall element and extending into said motor and passenger compartments, condition-nesponsive indicating instrument means carried within the motor com- ,partmentend of said housing member and having "a movable light-transmitting indicia member, a

1 la-bel-ing indicia member associated with said movable indicia member, viewing screen means carried by said housing member adjacent the "end thereof within said passenger compartment a position to be viewed by the vehicle operator, and means including objective lens means within said housing member interposed between said movable indicia member and said screen means and focusing the indicia on the latter, and a light source Within said housing member operatively aligned with said indicia members and said objective lens means, whereby an image of the indicia is projected onto said screen means.

9. An instrument assembly comprising a housing member, a plurality of indicating instrument means mounted within said housing member and each having a moveable indicia-bearing lightpervious member, viewing screen means carried screen means, and illuminating means within said housingoperatively alined with said indicia 4 by said housing member and visible exteriorly thereof, objective lens means within said housing member interposed between said indicia-bearing members and said viewing screen me'ansandiocusing the indicia upon the latter, and illuminating means arranged in operative alinernent with said indicia-bearing members-and said objective lens means, whereby an image of said indiciabearing members is projected on said viewing screen means, said objective lens means compris ing a unitary member formed with a plurality of objective lenses therein.

10. In combination with a vehicle having a windshield area and a fire wall extending down- 'wardly forwardly thereof, opaque reflecting screen means positioned adjacent said windshield area, said screen means being inclined toward the vehicle opertaor with the reflecting surfacetlrereof facing the area there-beneath, a housing member carried by said fire wall and extending substantially laterally beneath said windshield area, condition-responsive instrument means carried within said housing member, moveable indiciabearing means operatively connected to said instrument means and carried within said housing member, a light source within said housing member in operative alinement with said indiciabearing means, said housing member being enclosed and opaque except for a light-transmitting wall portion alined with the reflecting surface or said screen means, light-reflecting means carried by said housing member and arranged to reflect an image of said illuminated indicia-bear ing means through said light-transmitting wall portion and onto the reflecting surface of said screen means, and objective lens'means carried within said housing member and interposed between said light-reflecting means and 'said'indicia-bearing means and arranged to forms an image or said indicia-bearing means on the refiecting surface of said screen means.

11. An instrument assembly comprising a housing membena plurality of condition-responsive indicating instrument means carried within said housing member, :a plurality of moveable indicia light-transmitting members operatively connected to said instrument means, viewing screen means carried by said housing member at a point spaced from said indicia members, objective lens imeans interposed between said indicia members and said viewing screen means and focused upon the latter, illuminating means within said housing member and arranged in operative alinement with saidindicia members and said objective lens means, whereby an indicia image of each of said indicia members will appear on's'aid viewing screen means, and masking means blocking out all but .a restricted portion of each of said indicia members whereby only the actual instrument indications will appear on said viewing screen means, said masking means comprising an opaque panel member mounting said instrument means and hav'inga light-gpervious' portion alined with each of said'indicia members.

condensing means arranged to condense light rays from said illuminating means onto said indicia-bearing members, whereby an image of said indicia-bearing members will be projected onto said viewing screen means, said condensing means comprising a unitary member having a plurality of condenser lens means formed therein.

13. An instrument package unit comprising a casing, a plurality of condition-responsive instrument means mounted within said casing, a moveable light transmitting indicia-bearing member operatively associated with each of said instrument means positioned in said casing, viewing screen means carried by said casing, objective lens means within said casing interposed between said indicia-bearing members and said viewing screen means and focusing the indicia upon the latter, a light source mounted within said casing, and a light reflecting member in operative alinement with each of said indicia-bearing members and said light source and objective lens means and arranged to reflect light rays from said light source through said indicia-bearing members, whereby an image of each of said indicia-bearing members is projected onto said viewing screen means.

14. In combination with a vehicle having a wall element separating the motor compartment from the passenger compartment thereof, means defining an opening in said wall element, an instrument assembly comprising a housing member, means detachably mounting said housing member on the motor compartment side of said wall element with a portion thereof extending through said opening and into said passenger compartment, indicating instrument means carried within the motor compartment end of said housing member for connection to a functioning element of said vehicle, a light-transmitting indicia member carried by said housing member and operatively associated with said instrument means, viewing screen means carried adjacent the passenger compartment end of said housing member in a position to be readily viewed from said passenger compartment, objective lens means within said housing member interposed between said indicia member and said screen means and focusing the indicia on the latter, and illuminating means within said housing member operatively for connection to a functioning element of the vehicle, moveable indicia-bearing members associated with each of said instrument means, viewing screen means carried adjacent one end of said housing member, objective lens means within said housing member interposed between said indicia-bearing members and said screen means and focusing the indicia on the latter, a light source operatively alined with each of said indicia-bearing members and said objective lens means, whereby an image of said indicia will be projected on said screen means, additional light sources carried within said housing member and adapted for connection to switch means on the vehicle, an indicia means in said one end of said housing member adapted to be illuminated by said additional light sources.

16. The combination as set forth in claim 6, wherein the portion of said housing member which is exterior of said passenger compartment has a removable wall portion wherebyto facilitate replacement and repair of said instrument means.

17. In combination with a vehicle having a wall element separating the same into a motor compartment and a passenger compartment and a windshield with a dashboard extending downwardly therefrom into said passenger compartment, means providing an aperture in said wall element and in said dashboard, an elongate housing member detachably mounted on the motor compartment side of said wall element and extending through said apertures to terminate at said dashboard, viewing screen means carried by said housing member adjacent the end thereof within said passenger compartment, indicating instrument means carried within the motor compartment end of said housing member and arranged for operative connection to a functioning element of said vehicle, said instrument means having a moveable indicia-bearing member, means including objective lens means within said housing memberinterposed between said indiciabearing member and said screen means and focusing the indicia on the latter, and illuminating means within said housing member operatively alined with said indicia-bearing member and said objective lens means, whereby an image of said indicia is projected on said screen means.

18. The combination as set forth in claim 5, wherein said housing member is slip-fitted into brackets mounted on the motor compartment side of said wall element, and means are provided for detachably securing the same therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,757,493 Wharam May 6, 1930 1,871,877 Buc-kman Aug. 16, 1932 2,019,234 Nistri Oct. 29, 1935 2,178,637 Link Nov. 7, 1939 2,191,045 Slayton Feb. 20, 1940 2,264,044 Lee Nov. 25, 1941 2,426,184 Deloraine et a1 Aug. 26, 1947 2,537,996 Hankes Jan. 16, 1951 2,579,806 Dvorkin Dec. 25, 1951 

